Sports

Mountain View High senior Ken Hampel has qualified for Friday’s CCS championship meet in the shot put and discus.

Los Altos High’s top two singles players joined forces at the Central Coast Section Boys Individual Tennis Championships last week, and the results couldn’t have been better for the Eagles.

Anthony Bellos and Spencer Simonides – playing in only their second tournament as a tandem – captured the CCS doubles title May 16 at Imperial courts in Aptos. They made school history as well, becoming the first duo from Los Altos to claim the section crown.

Seeded third, Bellos and Simonides won all four of their matches in straight sets.

In the final, they dispatched second-seeded Michael Hoffman and William Boyd of Menlo 6-1, 6-3. Earlier in the day, the Los Altos juniors stunned top-seeded Ivan Kravtchenko and Everett Maltby of Mitty 6-4, 6-4 in the semifinals.

Los Altos coach Bill Wong suggested Bellos and Simonides play together for CCS, first entering them in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza Division tournament, which they won easily.

“The end result was awesome,” Wong said of the pairing. “It was interesting that they are both highly ranked junior doubles players competing year-round during the USTA season with different partners. Maybe now they don’t have to look too far for a perfect doubles partner.”

In the CCS final, Wong said Simonides “served exceptionally well,” setting up ferocious forehand volleys at the net for Bellos.

Both players stand at least 6-foot-4, “so they covered the net well,” Wong added. “They also have blistering return serves cross court and down the lines, which put a lot of pressure on their opponents (May 16).”

Gymnastics

As expected, St. Francis won Thursday’s CCS championship meet at Twisters Sports Center in Mountain View. The Lancers posted a score of 148.15 to claim their 13th consecutive title.

St. Francis’ Kelsey Celaya placed first all-around (38.025) and won the vault (9.825).

Kelli Yamaguma led Los Altos, posting a personal-best 36.850 all-around to take eighth. Teammate Emma Orner finished third on the balance beam (9.675).

“The girls did a great job in the face of tough competition from St. Francis, Lowell and Cupertino,” Los Altos coach Shannon Thoke said. “The competition at the high school level is increasing every year, and teams need to continually increase their talent levels to remain competitive.”

The CCS meet included 71 competitors representing 16 schools.

Track and field

There is no shortage of local athletes heading back to Gilroy for Friday’s CCS championships.

Several competitors from Los Altos, Mountain View and St. Francis highs have qualified for the meet based on their performances at last weekend’s CCS semifinals at Gilroy High.

Los Altos expects to have five representatives at the finals, Mountain View eight individuals and a relay team, and St. Francis nine individuals and three relay teams.

Danny Yeager, Austin Bowie and Terence Rabuzzi made it for the Los Altos boys. Yeager advanced with fourth-place finishes in two events Saturday: the 300 hurdles and high jump. Bowie placed fourth in the 1,600-meter run and Rabuzzi took 12th.

“I am really happy for all of our qualifiers but particularly happy for our seniors Austin and Catherine,” Eagles co-head coach David Barth said. “It is easy second semester of senior year to check out mentally, but both of these athletes have continued to push, and their reward is an opportunity to compete on Friday night against the best in the Central Coast.”

For the girls, qualifiers include Micha Auzenne (first in 100 hurdles and long jump, third in the 100 dash), Megan Benham (first in pole vault) Lauren Johnson (fourth in 100 hurdles), Mary Data (fifth in discus and shot put), Marisa Padilla (seventh in 400) and the 400 relay (fourth).

Girls lacrosse

St. Francis captured the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League championship May 12, routing Los Gatos 22-12 in the final.

Seven players scored for the Lancers, led by Beth Ruder’s five goals.

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